Sheldon Dries

BIOGRAPHY

Sheldon Dries was born April 23, 1994, in Macomb Township, Michigan. He is a forward in the NHL.

As an undrafted free agent, Dries was signed to a one-year American Hockey League (AHL) contract with the Texas Stars on May 10, 2017. After attending the Dallas Stars 2017 NHL training camp, Dries began his rookie professional season with Texas in 2017–18. He made a quick transition to the AHL, showing a scoring touch along with a tenacity in traffic to score 19 goals and 30 points in 70 regular season games. Dries led all AHL rookies in the Calder Cup playoffs, scoring 10 goals in 22 post-season games as the Stars fell to the Toronto Marlies in the finals.

On July 2, 2018, Dries was signed to his first NHL contract in agreeing to a one-year, entry-level contract with the Colorado Avalanche. In the Avalanche's training camp and pre-season, Dries was a standout, taking his opportunity in surprisingly making the Avalanche's opening night roster for the 2018–19 season. He made his NHL debut on the Avalanche's fourth line, playing 6 minutes in a 4–1 home opening victory over the Minnesota Wild on October 4, 2018. He recorded his first career NHL goal on November 1 in a 6–5 loss to the Calgary Flames. Fellow rookie Vladislav Kamenev also scored his first NHL goal that game, making the pair the first Avalanche rookies to score their first NHL goals in the same game since January 27, 1995. Continuing to play in a fourth-line role, Dries made 40 appearances throughout the season with the Avalanche, posting 3 goals and 6 points. He split the year between the Avalanche and AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles, adding more offense with 11 points in 25 contests. Helping the Eagles reach the 2019 Calder Cup playoffs, he recorded 1 goal in 4 playoff games.

As a restricted free agent with the Avalanche, Dries agreed to a one-year, two-way extension on July 25, 2019.

As a free agent from the Avalanche after three seasons within the organization, Dries was signed to a one-year, two-way contract with the Vancouver Canucks on July 28, 2021.